If Prince Charming was a LeMoyne Star quilt block, then Wendy Welsh of Wendy's Quilts and More would be my Patchwork Fairy Godmother. I am just ridiculously happy about how perfect this 10" eight-pointed star block turned out on my very first try, nice and flat and zero puckers in those Y-seams, and all this was accomplished without any seam ripping or swearing, thanks to Wendy's fabulous Hand Piecing 103 - 8 Pointed Stars video.
10 inch LeMoyne Star, Block 15 for my Retro '80s Sampler Quilt |
In the original Moda Modern Building Blocks quilt, this Eight Pointed Star block (also known as LeMoyne Star, Lemon Star, and Puritan Star) was simplified to be more beginner-friendly by bisecting the 45 degree diamonds into half square triangles, eliminating the set-in seams as shown below:
I prefer the cleaner look of the traditional block with the Y-seams for my own quilts, and I relish a good piecing challenge. This is supposed to be a skill building project, after all!
I finished the partially-pieced block I shared in my last post (also with unnecessary simplification seams removed in favor of Y-seams) and that one came out pretty good, but I'm regretting using white thread because I can see little white thread dots at the center of the block. I might redo that center bit with red or blue thread.
Block 12 Completed, 10 inches |
Block 12 from the Moda Modern Quilt Blocks Sampler was first published as Mosaic #13 in the Ladies' Art Catalog #341, according to Barbara Brackman's Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Patterns, 3rd Ed.
Love My Vintage 1935 Featherweight for Y-Seam Patchwork |
Wendy's video tutorial for this block demonstrates hand piecing, which I considered briefly, but decided against because all of the other blocks in this quilt will be machine pieced. I did not mark the seam lines on my fabric patches, but I did mark a tiny dot at each corner where the seam allowances needed to meet up so I could start and stop exactly on the dots. The reason I prefer my straight stitch only Featherweight for this fiddly piecing is that the feed dogs are set so much closer together than they are on modern zigzag machines and the right toe of the presser foot is only 1/8" wide, so it's much easier to get right in there and stitch right up to the bulky center point with this machine. Moreover, I often get one more stitch than I'm expecting when reversing directions on a modern electronic machine, but that doesn't happen on this fully manual machine that's nearly 100 years old. So when I get to the little marked dot and flip the reverse lever on the front of the machine, the next stitch sews backwards to secure my stitching line every single time. I never get that one extra unwanted stitch going forward into the seam allowance.
Following Wendy's Hand Piecing Instructions, by Machine |
Block 15 on the Design Wall |
92 x 77.5 Machine Pieced LeMoyne Star Quilt, circa 1870-1890, Maker Unknown |
23 Blocks Completed, 25 More to Go! |
I've been doing so much long arm quilting lately, and computerized quilting at that -- it felt good to cut fabric up into little pieces and sew it all back together again! You know I am SO CLOSE to being halfway done with the blocks for this quilt; I have to make one more block before I load the next flimsy for quilting! I started working on this sampler back in October, 2016, so if I keep working on it at this pace, I should be done with the quilt top by the end of 2026... 😂
WEDNESDAY
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
THURSDAY
Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
FRIDAY
Whoop Whoop Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict
Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More
Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts
Off the Wall Friday at Nina Marie Sayre
TGIFF Thank Goodness It’s Finished Friday, rotates, schedule found here: TGIF Friday
SATURDAY
UFO Busting at Tish in Wonderland
SUNDAY
Frédérique at Quilting Patchwork Appliqué
16 comments:
your star looks nice crispy and flat!
Beautiful star blocks! They look great with all of your other blocks too!
Beautiful star blocks! They look great with all of your other blocks too!
Beautiful LeMoyne star block, perfectly pieced. I'll confess this design is one of my favorites, but not a design I really feel comfortable with. I will check out Wendy's approach. Thanks for sharing. I think I just need to make this block design a priority to master (with luck in 2021 or 2022).
Beautiful, Rebecca! I'm glad you have that superpower! Definitely not mine - they scare me to death! LOL
Lovely Y-seams, Rebecca Grace! I've always loved the LeMoyne Star block and used to make lots of them for various things. I used Sharyn Craig's machine-piecing instructions, so I'm anxious to see how Wendy's instructions compare. :)
I am sure piecing is a wonderful break from quilting. Your work is perfect no matter what you are doing.
Piecing things my own way instead of the pattern way happens often at my house too. Sometimes I choose what looks the best but sometimes I choose whatever method I am in the mood for.
Thank you. I knew there was a reason I loved sewing with my Featherweight more than the big expensive computerized ones.
It's a wonderful execution of Y-seams!! Love how the quilt is coming together. Thanks for linking up!
That is pure perfection! It almost doesn't look pieced at all but a computer generated block. I've done a few Y seams and try to avoid them like the plague. Seeing this block might be changing my mind. Your blocks are gorgeous so far!
You have an awesome superpower!! that block looks amazing and your quilt layout - Lovely!!!
Beautifully pieced; y-seams are your superpower!
Absolutely perfecto! I like the back stitch and the fix on the Husqvarna’s I have, but I HATE THE ADDED STITCH! I am in the habit now of having to really watch out for that when doing bindings. Yesterday I quilted one of the wall hangings that were UFOs and after 3 hours of quilting (I did it wrong) I was hurting more than when I do a free motion long arm project! Now I remember why I purchased the HQ Sixteen in 2005! LOL. I will check out Wendy’s tutorial. Hugs and blessings to your Rebecca!
Lovely piecing! We did y-seams years ago in the guild I belonged to and they were a snap. Should revisit them! Love the transparency effect of the red, blue and white one.
No wonder you're so happy! That's a mighty flat block. I'd be yelling from the rooftops! Thanks for sharing on Wednesday Wait Loss.
Wow, lovely Y seams! Beau travail, magnifiquement exécuté, et c'est un superbe bloc qui vient s'ajouter aux autres !
Courage, plus qu'un bloc pour arriver à la moitié, et 2026 n'est pas si loin 😂.
Thank you for linking up ❤️
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